Show Telegram Short Story Fortunate Honesty By P ANN SAVILLE Although customers seldom came into nto the store at night it was part of f Jadd Baines' Baines job to keep it open until 9 He often decided laconically ly Iy y as he seated himself before the theoal coal oal stove that it was lucky for him he IB could spend so so much time dream dream- Ing ng And he enjoyed it it too this dreaming reaming of oC the day when he could get et beyond the hill hilI country into the cities where there was laughter and music the same as you ou heard over the he radio Of course it wasn't so pleasant when his dreams were Inevitably In In- grounded by n n. grim realy real- real ity money y money At least five hundred dollars ollars ho he would need to go in st style yle Such an impossible amount that hat it was fortunate the store cash ash never exceeded 50 He was thinking along these lines when hen a couple typical of the hardy hill ill folk entered Wizened they were ere and you ou noticed it all the themore themore theore more ore because their eyes were so bright right The man spoke e first Is a courthouse hereabouts where we can canet get et married Jadd Baines motioned them to chaIrs lairs Why yes pes theres there's a courthouse cross ross the wa way but its it's too late to to- night ight You'll have to sta stay over until un un- til 1 tomorrow morning The old man wiped his brow in fatigue We Ve come a long way Couldn't make it no earlier His to bride-to-be patted his hand I consolingly One more day aint much We Ve can stay up to Cousin illie's illies oV overnight Jadd d watched as the old mans man's brow wrinkled He tried to guess the meaning of this sudden derment Taint the part that worries worries wor wor- ries me the prospective bridegroom bridegroom bride bride- groom said then paused as his eyes roved about the store until the they rested on a safe in the corner He looked at it a a. while then turned back to the clerk and studied him carefully Jadd as becoming uncomfortable when the old man spoke Young feller he said You pear honest to me I want you to put this money In the safe til mornin Dont Don't trust Cousin Tillie's man a mite He took the purse from the woman and handed it to Jadd Jadd took it it knowing perfectly well that he couldn't put it In the safe that was beyond his domain The man was saying wistfully nine hundred of em in We Ve saved quite a spell fer that Jadd muttered something unintelligible unintelligible unintelligible as the trusting pair made their way off He was left standIng standing standing stand stand- ing with the nine hundred Four hundred dollars more than he need need- needed ed edl He looked at the clock on the thc wall waIl Its ticking was suddenly like a volley of rhythmic hammers fifteen Eight thirty fifteen thirty minutes until the only night train to the thc cit city pulled in The train that would take him to the city that had music and and lights He stood there a solitary figure his imagination picturing the new You pear honest to me me said the old man scenes that were now within his reach His eyes saw streets crowded crowd crowd- ed with friendly people and shining shining shin shin- ing ing- with lights of oC brilliant hues And all at once another sort of light came into his vision Lights that had been soft and starr starry lights that shone from the eY eyes 8 of a wizened wizened wiz wiz- ened old lady lady lady-a a bride to bride to And still again appeared a different sort sorl of light proud light proud defiant that had accompanied the words of the groom groom- We Ve saved quite a spell fer that But something that had always threatened tho the cash register still persisted It was sa saying that the little hill hilI town had a heart a great big heart that would shower the poor couple after he was far beyond apprehension They wouldn't suffer suf suf- suffer fer and he would gain Gain The clock on the wall waIl struck once in a startling interruption of ot his thoughts Eight It left a dismal echo in the store to remind him that he had been standing there fifteen minutes The purse was still clutched tightly in his hand He wished suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly that the train might come at once so 50 that he need hesitate no longer S Suddenly he whirled around The Thedoor Thedoor Thedoor door had opened and the old man was again entering entering- Jadd dropped the purse into his pocket The old mountaineer leaned on the counter Jes Jes' thought Id I'd run runback runback runback back n ast ya yes a to go Jong long to the courthouse tomorrow he said then added confidentially I 1 never liked Cousin Times Time's man Hes He's got wicked eyes not straight like most like elIas fellas like yourn ourn are arc Jadd Baines' Baines eyes fell feIl then lifted suddenly as a train whistled shrilly The forty five The engine had stopped and was panting impatiently at its inactivity Jadd stood fascinated until the panting began to quicken Bells BelIs rang warningly and the panting became a steady purr Then to the old mans man's astonishment astonishment astonish astonish- ment mont he laughed A laugh that held helda a world of relief relic He stretched his neck and ran his handkerchief around the inside of ot his collar matter matter- 1 His trusting friend wanted to know Inthe in inthe inthe That train Jadd motioned the direction of the station Im just glad it wasn't early The old fellows fellow's brow wrinkled in puzzlement Then he too laughed In a bewildered manner Ho He had dismissed it as something he couldn't understand And he was right about that But the next morning mornin when a happy old man opened a decrepit purse to pay for his marriage license and pennies pennie rolled roIled out J Jadd add Baines standing behind blinked at the thc pile of coppers and then understood many things Among which was that honesty even honesty even fortunate honesty hon hon- esty esty pas pays Copyright McClure Newspaper Syndicate I |